Serie A | Gameweek 16

Dec 15, 2024 at 7.45pm UK

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

AC Milanvs.Genoa

Match preview

Milan recorded their fourth Champions League win on the spin as Rafael Leao's superb first-half strike and Tammy Abraham's late strike secured victory over Red Star Belgrade in the penultimate home game of the league phase.

Despite moving to within a point of an automatic last-16 berth, coach Paulo Fonseca was far from happy, questioning the attitude of some of his players and threatening to replace them with youngsters from the club's primavera.

Last week, Milan lost 2-1 to local rivals Atalanta BC in the league, leaving them 12 points adrift of La Dea in the title race, and they will now have to rely on cup competitions in their search for silverware.

The Rossoneri return to continental action in January when they take on Girona and Dinamo Zagreb, but first they have three Serie A fixtures to complete a disappointing calendar year.

Before taking on Hellas Verona and Roma, they face a Genoa side that Milan have dominated in recent seasons, having scored at least twice in eight of their last 10 league meetings and losing just one of their last 13.

Having also kept clean sheets in five of their seven Serie A home matches so far, despite doubts over Fonseca's defence, the hosts will be expected to prevail when a familiar face returns to the San Siro.

Although Patrick Vieira failed to make much of an impact at Milan before moving to Arsenal, where his playing career really took off, the 1998 World Cup winner went on to win several Scudetti for Inter a few years later.

Now, in the latest managerial role of an itinerant coaching career, Vieira has made an impressive start to life at Genoa, who have moved away from the relegation zone since he took over from Alberto Gilardino.

Under the Frenchman's watch, the Grifone have increased their average number of passes, shots and shots against per game - and most importantly, their points tally.

Going back to the end of Gilardino's reign, Genoa are unbeaten in five matches, keeping three clean sheets, and have won their last two away games without conceding a goal.

The Ligurian club took three points from the last meeting between the two sides, when a late strike earned them a point in a six-goal thriller at the San Siro in May, and they would be happy to draw again this weekend.

Recent Performance

AC Milan Serie A form:LWDDWL

AC Milan form (all competitions):DWWWLW

Genoa Serie A form:LWDDWD

Team News

Paulo Fonseca will be without Ruben Loftus-Cheek on Sunday evening due to a thigh injury, while key man Christian Pulisic remains sidelined with a calf problem.

Alvaro Morata also picked up a knock against Red Star, meaning Tammy Abraham will have to deputise up front, while Ismael Bennacer, Luka Jovic and Alessandro Florenzi are all unavailable.

In the midfield, mercurial winger Rafael Leao has been in fine form since his stunning display at the Bernabeu last month, scoring three goals in his last four league appearances - just one fewer than in his first nine of the season.

Meanwhile, Genoa boss Patrick Vieira will welcome an old friend back to Milan this weekend when veteran striker Mario Balotelli returns to one of his many former clubs.

Likely to start as a substitute, with top scorer Andrea Pinamonti leading the line, Balotelli could make his first Serie A appearance at the San Siro in more than eight years.

Elsewhere, Vieira will be able to call on the services of Johan Vasquez after the Mexican defender's suspension for the recent 0-0 draw with Torino, but Koni De Winter, Jeff Ekhator, Caleb Ekuban and Ruslan Malinovskyi are all ruled out through injury, as is ex-Milan striker Junior Messias.

Possible starting lineup

AC Milan possible starting lineup:

Maignan; Emerson, Gabbia, Thiaw, Hernandez; Fofana, Musah; Chukwueze, Reijnders, Leao; Abraham

Genoa possible starting lineup:

Leali; Sabelli, Bani, Vasquez, Martin; Frendrup, Badelj, Thorsby; Zanoli, Miretti; Pinamonti